Kids 'N Parks Transportation Grant

The Kids ‘n Parks Transportation Grant, now in its eighteenth year, is administered by the New Mexico State Parks Division as part of the broader New Mexico Outdoor Classroom Program. This initiative enables K-12 teachers across New Mexico to take their students on educational field trips to State Parks, providing immersive, experiential learning opportunities that reinforce classroom instruction. The program aims to integrate hands-on outdoor activities with academic content standards, enhancing both engagement and comprehension. The grant specifically covers transportation costs, either fully or partially, for eligible school field trips. To qualify, applicants must be employed by a public or public-charter school within a recognized New Mexico school district. Trips must be to a designated New Mexico State Park, and applicants are required to coordinate with park staff before applying. The chosen field trip must align with classroom study and address at least two educational benchmarks from one or more content areas. Applications are accepted via a digital form and must be submitted by November 14, 2025. Each application must include a precise transportation quote, which must be emailed separately to the program contact. Applications that lack this quote or fail to coordinate with the relevant State Park will not be considered. Grant amounts typically range from $200 to $1,000, depending on both the overall cost and the cost per student. Due to limited funding, not all applications will be approved. The most competitive applications will demonstrate a strong connection between the field trip and classroom curriculum and provide detailed, cost-efficient transportation estimates. The program encourages applications from both new and returning educators, especially those willing to commit to long-term engagement with the Outdoor Classroom Program. All trips must be completed by the end of the academic school year, and award notifications will be issued before Thanksgiving. For questions or support during the application process, educators are encouraged to contact Maggie Price via email or phone.

Strongest applications clearly link trip objectives with classroom curriculum and provide detailed, competitive transportation estimates.